Clothespin



Patented May 24,' 1949 CLOTHESPIN Charles Castelli, Union City, N. J., assignor to Columbia Protektosite Co., Inc., Carlstadt, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 28, 1947, Serial No. I750,980

s claims. l

This invention relates to securing devices or clips and has particular reference to clothespins.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for engagement with articles or clothes lines of diierent sizes.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of the type mentioned having improved means for preventing a clothespin or the like from being accidentally split at the bight thereof.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the nature set forth having improved means comprising parts of different degrees of resilience coordinated so that one of the parts may reenforce or support another according to the varying strains produced in gripping large and small articles.

According to the invention, an improved clothespin is produced of plastic material to afford greater smoothness, neatness and cleanliness. It has been known to make clothespins of this material and to provide for their engagement with ropes of different thicknesses. Because plastic material possesses a low tensile strength, such clothespins have often been broken or split at the bight when the clothespin is pressed down hard on a thick rope. It is one object of the invention to avoid this difliculty. Since the resilience of plastic material is eiciency of the clothespin and permitted it to easily slip off the line. It is therefore another object of the invention to overcome this drawback and to furnish a structure which cannot be strained beyond a predetermined point, thereby avoiding any possibility of permanently distorting the device or of splitting the same, while maintaining an ample range of deflections to engage lines of different thicknesses.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class alluded to which is particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, durable, and highly eiiicient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention comprises the novel features, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a device such as a clothespin embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device, but showing the same applied to hold an article on a thick clothesline as indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the device but illustrating the same as applied to hold an article on a relatively thin clothesline as indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 6-6 and 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation showing a modiication.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined, but useful embodiments may be produced involving less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several dierent constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing a preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a securing device such as a clothespin embodying the invention. The same may be made of any suitable material of a resilient nature, but the advantages thereof are best exemplified in making it of plastic, preferably as a one-piece structure. The device I0 can be formed in a simple mold as will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

The device l0 comprises a body member Il, having a nger piece portion at one end which may include a neck I 2 carrying a head i3. Below the neck, the body member Il is enlarged to provide a pair of elongated spaced jaws I4 which afford a suitable ent-rance I5 at the opposite end of the body member. Reenforcing ribs may extend continuously from the head along the neck l2 at I6 and along the outer sides of the jaws at Il. The jaws I4 are of substantial length, and they have a bight intercon- `of the stop element'ZI.

nection at I8 they are preferably continuously resilient from the bight I8 to the entrance end I5.

Between the jaws I4 is an auxiliary clamping or gripping means aiolding seating portions for articles or ropes of different sizes. Thus a seating area I9 for a clothes line of standard size is aiforded at I9 adjacent to the entrance I3, and a seating area 20 for a clothes line of lesser thickness is afforded inward of the area I9. The reference to the ropes or lines is intended to include the, clothes or other articles which are carried thereby and are secured by the clothespin. The auxiliary gripping means includes one or more auxiliary jaws or lingers 2I and a stop element 221'` The latter is connected to the body member II, for example to one of the jaws Id. If desired, the adjacent portions of the jaws I4 may include a reenforcing rib 23 above the stop element 22, this rib continuing adjacent to the bight I8 and merging into the stop element 22. The rib 23 may afford a shoulder 24 to limit upward deflection The auxiliary'jaws '2| may be connected at their lower ends to the adjacent ends of the main jaws I4 as at 25, and they may terminate in free ,endportions 2t which are disposed 'in relative proximity to the stop element '22. The dimension of the latter is suicient in a direction transverse to the clothespin to cooperate with the auxiliary jaws 2l to prevent a clothes line or rope from slipping beyond the free end portions 26 of the auxiliary jaws. In consequence, vthe stop element 22 bridges virtually the entire gap or space. Each of the auxiliary jaws 2l is provided with a bowed o1' curved seating portion 2l directly adjacent to the entrance I5 and spaced from the adjacent jaw I4. The companion portions 2l' of the auxiliary jaws thus cooperate to provide the seating area I9 for a clothes line or rope. Each of the auxiliary jaws 2l is also provided with a slightlyv curved portion 2B between portions 29 and 21. The complemental portions 28 of the different auxiliary jaws cooperate to provide the seating area 23 for a relatively thin clothes line or rope. The elements 2I and 22 lie in a common plane with the main jaws i4 and the latter are adapted to be resiliently deected toward and away from each other, and at the saine time the auxiliary jaws 2l which are spaced from each other and from the main jaws are adapted to be deilected in a resilient manner with respect to each other and to the main jaws.

Certain features of the construction will be more clearly apparent upon considering the mode of operation of the device Il). According to Fig. 2, the clothes line or rope of standard size or thickness is indicated at 29 and a fragmentary showing of an article such as clothing or the like carried by the line is indi-cated at 38. The clothespin I is applied to hold the article 3Q on the line 29. This is done in the usual manner, with the entrance serving to facilitate expansion of the clothespin in a cam-like manner. The expansion shown involves a resilient deflection of the main jaws i4 substantially throughout the entire length thereof, and it alsoinvolves a relative expansion of the auxiliary clamping means, with the jaws 2I thereof moving apart from each other. A signicant feature herein indicated, is that the free end portions 28 of the auxiliary jaws 2l come into direct lateral contacter abutment with their respective adjacent in ain` jaws I4; this may be facilitated by constructing the free end portions 25 of knoblike form. n Another important feature of the construction is indicated in that the auxiliary'jaws 2I are'much smaller in cross section than the main jaws I4 and are therefore somewhat weaker and possess less stiffness than the latter. Accordingly, compactness is assured, and nevertheless the strength of the main jaws is available for supporting or stiiening of the auxiliary jaws 2l by the lateral abutment of the free end portions 2t as herein indicated.

It will be noted that the stop element 22 is spaced at a substantial distance from the bight I8, and thus a practical exemplification involves the use of auxiliary jaws such as 2| which may be only a little bit longer than one-half the length of the mainjaws I4. The practical utility of this construction will now be apparent upon further consideration of Fig. 2. If the operator should accidentally press down very hard upon the clothespin, the rope 29 might be forced further upwardly to enter the second area 2:1; to be gripped between the portions 28 of the auxiliary jaws, but further movement would be resisted by the stop element 22, thus preventing a severe strain at the bight I3 which might cause breakage or splitting of the clothespin. Between the gripping area 25 and the bight I8 there is a substantial length of the main jaws I4 which is adapted for deflection within the elastic limit so that the full and complete operativeness of the device is maintained even under the most unfavorable conditions. l'n practical operation it is not contemplated that the thick rope at 29 shall enter the gripping area 20, the latter being reserved for a relatively thin clothes line such as 3| carrying a garment or other article 32 as shown in Fig. 3. However, the utility of the clothespin even under the very worst conditions has been clearly indicated.

Referring to Fig. 3, the line 3I and the article carried thereby are passed through the entrance I5, past the opening I9 and into the clamping area 28 so as to be gripped .between the portions 28 of the auxiliary jaws 2l, and with the free end portions 23 contacting or abutting the main jaws I4 to be supported by the latter, regardless whether or not the main jaws are sufliciently stressed to be expanded. According to the thickness of the relatively thin rope 3I or of the clothing carried thereby, the main jaws I4 may have any satisfactory accommodating expansion. It is with the use of the relatively thin clothes line 3| that the stop 22v is of particular utility. If the line 3| slipped beyond the free end portions 28, the clamping engagement would be lost, and the article of clothing would be capable of sliding off from the line, particularly when subjected to a strong wind. Also the clothespin might slip along the line in an objectionable manner. It is in this sense that the stop element 22 may be considered as a part of the auxiliary means hereinbefore referred to which is disposed' between the main jaws I 4 for holding the articles. In another sense, the stop element 22 may be considered functionally independent of the auxiliary jaws except in that it limits the inward movement of the line 3| under certain particular conditions. It will be appreciated that if the stop element 22 were removed or accidentally broken, the clothes line would be able to exert a powerful wedging action against the rib 23 and thus split the clothespin. Since plastic is relatively `expensiveas compared, for example with wood, it is desirable to make the clothespin as thin as possible, and the resultant reduction in strength is herein olfset bythe avoidance of undue stresses thereon. `If preferred, the stop element22 may be arranged to extend axially from thebight 18,

but the molding is simplified and less plastic is used by the transverse arrangement shown. In the operation of the jaw elements 2l, it will be perceived that the portions thereof intermediate of their ends are always spaced from the main jaws lll so that these elements 2l form springs supported at their ends, the resultant structure being somewhat in the nature of a hollow spring consisting of the parts Hl and 2l having an opening therebetween. By making the elements 2l free-ended they are advantageously adapted for elongation upon deflection, thus promoting the resilience of the device. If desired, the clothespin I could be arranged to receive only one size of clothes line, but all the advantages are best realized by a construction adapted to engage clothes lines of diiferent thicknesses. By makn ing the portions 28 relatively straight, as distinguished from the substantially curved portions 21, there is greater room for transverse deflection of the jaw elements 2l, and the importance of the stop 22 as a seating element for a clothes line is correspondingly increased as the rope 3! might be readily pushed against the stop. It is to be noted that a clothespin is subjected to considerable abuse, is oftentimes rammed down upon the clothes line with excessive force, and this invention is intended to render the device foolproof under all conditions.

Certain advantages of the invention may be obtained by omitting one of the jaw elements 2l, and if necessary forming rope seating portions in the opposed jaw I4 complemental to those on the jaw element 2 i. However, the range of deection would be materially reduced and the danger of breakage and of straining beyond the elastic limit would be increased.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modied clothespin 35 of simplied form to more clearly show the utility of a stop element such as 22. This clothespin 35 may be made of plastic, wood, or other suitable material. It comprises a body member having spaced jaws 3S, 31, forming a bight 38 at one end and an entrance 39 at the opposite end. The body portion is also formed with a nger piece 40. Formed on the body member or connected to one of the jaws is a stop element disposed at a substantial distance from the bight 38, it being understood that the jaws are resilient substantially throughout the length thereof, in- Y cluding the portions between the stop element of the bight. Between the stop element and the entrance 39, the confronting faces #l2 of the jaws may have a slope sucient to operatively engage clothes lines of different thicknesses. These surfaces may be roughened or undulated in a wellknown manner for selectively seating a clothes line at different points. If the clothespin 39 is rammed down hard on a clothes line, the stop element arrests its travel, and prevents it from reaching the bight 39 and splitting the clothespin, the line being stopped at a point where the jaws possess the requisite resilience to avoid any tendency to splitting. Further, the location of the stop element 4I and its relation to the jaws ft2 may be such that deection beyond the elastic limit will be substantially avoided so that the clothespin may not acquire a permanent set in deformed position.

1. As a new article of manufacture a plastic clothespin comprising an elongated body member having a nger piece portion at one end and a pair of generally parallel main jaws extending toward an entrance on the clothespin at the other end of the body member forming a bight between said jaw members, generally parallel auxiliary jaws between the main jaws, the auxiliary jaws formed to provide therebetween rope receiving transverse openings of different sizes, the larger opening being adjacent said entrance, the smaller opening being spaced inwardly toward said bight, the auxiliary jaws having free ends adjacent the smaller openings and being integral with the respective main jaws adjacent said entrance, the jaws |being resilient, the main jaws being of substantially greater length than the auxiliary jaws, and a stop element integrally formed with one of said main jaws, said stop element lying in proximity to and over said free ends of the auxiliary jaws serving to prevent a rope from traveling inwardly beyond the auxiliary jaws, said stop element being substantially spaced from the bight and free of the other main jaw to permit resilient deflection of the latter between the stop element and the bight.

2. The clothespin as defined in claim 1 in which the inner adjacent portions of the main jaws are formed with a rib extending from the stop element on one of the main jaws around the bight portion and along the other main jaw terminating short of the free end of the stop element.

3. The clothespin as deflned in claim l in which the inner adjacent portions of the main jaws are formed with a rib extending from the stop element on one `of the main jaws aro-und the bight portion and along the other main law terminating short of the free end of the stop element, and said rib termination and said free end of the stop element being so constructed and arranged that the rib termination forms a shoulder to limit upward deection of the stop element.

CHARLES CASTELLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 140,443 Jacobson Feb. 27, 1945 179,169 Eastman June 27, 1876 188,417 Sanderson et al. Mar. 13, 1877 1,205,889 Halvorson Nov. 21, 1916 1,250,308 Hanson Dec. 18, 1917 1,764,833 Forget June 17, 1930 1,978,980 Barkow Oct. 30, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,005 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1898 86,018 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1920 

